With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

If Government Ran the Newspapers

"Secretary of Treasury Paul H. O'Neill announces his resignation, effective in the next few weeks."--MSNBC Breaking News Bulletin 12-6-02 6:23am (PST)

The "White House News - Weekly Review" -- is a weekly e-mail update "designed to keep you informed of the major events and speeches by the President and his Administration." This was the email sent out Friday December 6, 2002. Notice what's missing?

T H E W H I T E H O U S E N E W S WEEKLY REVIEW

December 6, 2002

In this Issue
AT THE TOP
Defense
PRESIDENTIAL & ADMINISTRATION NEWS
1 Two African Leaders Visit
2 War on Terrorism
3 Child Internet Safety
4 Smart Border
5 Pageant of Peace
6 Eid al-Fitr
7 Menorah Lighting
8 Pearl Harbor

AT THE TOP


Defense
PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS DEFENSE BILL

On Monday the President signed the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act, which will set the priorities of
the Defense Department during a critical period of the
country's history. Today, America faces unprecedented
challenges, and we're facing them with unmatched technology,
careful planning and the finest traditions of valor. The
Act rewards the sacrifice of military families with higher
pay, improved facilities and better housing. It procures
the best weapons and the best equipment, while adding funds
for operations and maintenance. It invests in missile
defenses and the new technologies we need to gain every
advantage in the battlefields of the future. And since
intelligence plays such a critical role in our ability to
achieve military victory, the Act creates a new high-level
position within the Department of Defense called the Under
Secretary for Intelligence.

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021202-8.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021202-8.v.smil

PRESIDENTIAL & ADMINISTRATION NEWS


1 Two African Leaders Visit
PRESIDENT MEETS WITH LEADERS OF KENYA AND ETHIOPIA

President Bush Thursday said, "We welcome two strong friends
of America here; two leaders of countries which have joined
us in the -- to fight the global war on terror."

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-2.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-2.v.smil


2 War on Terrorism
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY'S REMARKS ABOUT THE WAR ON TERRORISM

Speaking in Denver, Colorado on Monday Vice President Cheney
said, "The government of the United States understands that
just as World War II was waged in both Europe and the
Pacific, the war on terror must be waged on many fronts at
once. As we destroy the terrorist networks and hunt down
the killers, we must simultaneously confront the regime that
is developing weapons for the sole purpose of inflicting
death on a massive scale."

Text - Vice President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021202-4.html


3 Child Internet Safety
PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS CHILD INTERNET SAFETY LEGISLATION

President Bush Wednesday signed legislation that will create
a new place on the Internet that is safe for our children to
learn and to play and to explore. At the bill signing
ceremony in the Roosevelt Room, the President said, "This
bill is a wise and necessary step to safeguard our children
while they use computers and discover the great
possibilities of the Internet. Every site designated .kids
will be a safe zone for children."

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021204-1.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021204-1.v.smil


4 Homeland Defense
U.S. - CANADA SMART BORDER/30 POINT ACTION PLAN UPDATE

In December 2001, Governor Tom Ridge and Deputy Prime
Minister John Manley signed the smart border declaration and
associated 30-Point action plan to enhance the security of
our shared border while facilitating the legitimate flow of
people and goods. On September 9, 2002, President Bush and
Prime Minister Chretien met to discuss progress on the Smart
Border Action Plan and asked that they be updated regularly
on the work being done to modernize our common border. This
report is the first update since the meeting of the
President and the Prime Minister.

Fact Sheet - Smart Border Update:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021206-1.html


5 Pageant of Peace
PRESIDENT BUSH LIGHTS NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE

In lighting the National Christmas Tree Thursday, President
Bush said, "Our entire nation is also thinking at this time
of year of the men and women in the military, many of whom
will spend this Christmas at posts far from home. They
stand between Americans and grave danger. They serve in the
cause of peace and freedom. They wear the uniform proudly
and we are proud of them."

Pageant of Peace 2002:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2002/pageantofpeace.html

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-10.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-10.v.smil


6 Eid al-Fitr
PRESIDENT COMMEMORATES EID AL-FITR

President Bush Thursday visited the Islamic Center of
Washington to commemorate Eid al-Fitr, the culmination of
the holy month of Ramadan. In his remarks, the President
said, "Here in the United States our Muslim citizens are
making many contributions in business, science and law,
medicine and education, and in other fields. Muslim members
of our Armed Forces and of my administration are serving
their fellow Americans with distinction, upholding our
nation's ideals of liberty and justice in a world at peace.
And in our Nation's Capital, this center contributes greatly
to our spiritual and cultural life."

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-5.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-5.v.smil

More on Ramadan:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/ramadan/


7 Menorah Lighting
PRESIDENT PARTICIPATES IN MENORAH LIGHTING

President Bush Wednesday said, "This is the sixth night of
Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. This holiday marks
the victory of Jewish patriots over oppression more than two
millennia ago. The menorah represents an ancient miracle,
in which a lamp with only enough oil for one day burned
eight."

Menorah Lighting 2002:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2002/hanukkah/index.html

Text - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021204-15.html

Video - President's Remarks:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021204-15.v.smil


8 Pearl Harbor
NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY, 2002

In this year's proclamation President Bush said, "Today, we
salute our veterans of Pearl Harbor and World War II, whose
sacrifices saved democracy during a dark hour. In their
memory, a new generation of our Armed Forces goes forward
against new enemies in a new era. Once again, we pledge to
defend freedom, secure our homeland, and advance peace
around the world. Americans have been tested before, and
our Nation will triumph again."

Text - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2002:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021206-5.html

____________________________________________________